Conference of Creative Entrepreneurs – places to eat/shop/hang

You’re coming to the Conference of Creative Entrepreneurs? Hooray! They’ve picked a really good neighborhood. Here is a list of places I know and love, all within about six blocks of the Century Ballroom (Friday’s conference location). I’ve included an address and a link to a Google map for each below in the hopes that those reading this on a mobile device (hi there!) find it easy enough to use. Please note, there are more places mentioned on the bottom of this page of the CCE’s website, as well as their Where To Eat series: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. Do know that the conference will be providing breakfast and lunch.

You need to eat:

Oddfellows Cafe – This restaurant is in the same building as the Century Ballroom, the entrance is just around the corner. It’s charming and has a good menu, open all day long and late into the night. (Breakfast? Yes!)
1525 10th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98122
[map]
(206) 325-0807

Via Tribunali – Serving some seriously good Neapolitan pizza. The pizza come unsliced so if you’re sharing ask the server to bring some kitchen shears that they have for this purpose. Seriously, it’s the easiest way to cut pizza and you’ll ditch your pizza cutter shortly after you return home. (Breakfast? No.)
913 East Pike Street, Seattle, WA 98122-3816
[map]
(206) 322-9234

Vermillion – They serve a small menu, usually a soup, a cheese plate and a few other things, but they are cozy and charming and have a good wine list. Walk through the art gallery to the cafe space in the back. (Note: Vermillion is where we held the first year or so of Grassroots Business Association meetings, we *heart* Vermillion.) (Breakfast? No.)
1508 11th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
[map]
(206) 709-9797

Cafe Presse – Located across an annoyingly busy street but so worth the trek for amazing and unpretentious French food. A Stumptown coffee is next door. (Breakfast? Yes!)
1117 12th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98122
[map]
(206) 709-7674

You need to eat some sugar:

Cupcake Royale – One of the original cupcake places in Seattle. My favorite cupcake is still the ballerina (vanilla with pink vanilla frosting). They also have good espresso here.
1111 East Pike Street, Seattle, WA 98122
[map]
(206) 328-6544

Molly Moon’s Ice Cream – Amazing ice cream in amazing flavors. Expect to stand in a long line of impressively dressed people. This is about five inches from the Century Ballroom entrance so I expect you’ll be having ice cream before you leave Seattle.
917 East Pine Street, Seattle, WA 98122
[map]
(206) 708-7947

Old School Frozen Custard – Amazing custard with your choice of things to add. Expect to stand in a long line of impressively dressed people.
1316 East Pike Street, Seattle, WA 98122
[map]
(206) 324-2586

Stitches – Fabric, yarn, needles, ribbon, felt, findings. All your therapeutic crafting needs (or adhesive needs) have been curated here for you. They even have sewing machines that you can rent. And Japanese fabric. And needle felting supplies should you feel the need to stab somebody something. Honestly, when I need something I come here first, they have some of the best fabric offerings in the city.
711 East Pike Street, Seattle, WA 98122-3719
[map]
(206) 709-0707

Value Village – Thrifting! This is across the street from Vermillion.
1525 11th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98122-3903
[map]
(206) 322-7789

You need to sit on some grass and do some people watching:

Cal Anderson Park – The side of the park closest to the conference location (right across the street) is all soccer fields, but walk deeper into the park and you’ll find an impressive fountain and lots of places to stroll or sit for a while.
1635 11th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
[map]

Other vital needs:

Drugstore: Walgreens – Just a block away from the Century Ballroom, no need to bring your own band aids.
1531 Broadway, Seattle, WA
[map]
(206) 204-0599

Post Office – Because the TSA won’t let you carry on the new fabric scissors that you bought at Stitches.
101 Broadway East, Seattle, WA
[map]
(206) 324-5474

You need to borrow a computer – Some nearby internet cafes (yes they still exist) because you, like me, never bring your laptop along but always find a near emergency situation where you’re handheld thingy just won’t do and you need a computer NowNowNow and cannot wait until you get back to your hotel.

Hi Katie – I have been only listing places I have been to, and the Dick’s is a bit further away from the conference location than I think would be practical to include. But I will list Seattle Hot Dog, thanks!